—whether committed openly or secretly—as well as sin, unjust aggression, associating with Allah that for which He has sent down no authority, and saying about Allah what you do not know.”
[Surah al-Aʿrāf: 33]
Thus, everything subject to an absolute, general prohibition is not permitted in one circumstance and then permitted in another, such as blood, carrion, and pork.
All obligations are likewise encompassed by His words:
“Say: My Lord has commanded justice. Direct your faces toward Him at every place of worship, and call upon Him with sincere devotion.”
[Surah al-Aʿrāf: 29]
And so on to the end of the verse. Every obligation is therefore confined to the rights of Allah and the rights of His servants.
Allah’s right over His servants is that they worship Him and associate nothing with Him, while the rights owed to His servants consist in justice. It is related in the two Sahih collections from Muʿādh—may Allah be pleased with him—who said:
“I was riding behind the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—when he said:
‘O Muʿādh, do you know Allah’s right over His servants?’
I replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’
He said:
‘Allah’s right over His servants is that they worship Him and associate nothing with Him. O Muʿādh, do you know the servants’ right over Allah when they do that?’
I replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’
He said:
‘Their right over Allah is that He not punish them.’” (1)
Then He—Glorified is He—set out elsewhere the various forms of immoralities and transgression, as well as the various rights of His servants (2). He set out the laws of inheritance in detail, distinguishing those entitled to inherit from those not entitled and specifying what an heir receives by fixed share or as a residuary. He also explained which marriages are lawful and which are forbidden, along with other matters.
Thus, if the Imam is capable of formulating universal statements that encompass the various categories, the Messenger has a greater claim to this than the Imam. But if it is said, “That is impossible,” then the Imam is even less capable of it than the Messenger.